Buffalo Hills yields low diamond count

The quantity of stones in a kimberlite find at the Buffalo Hills project in north-central Alberta is insufficient to warrant further work.

A 223.3-kg sample of drill core from kimberlite K281, discovered by Ashton Mining of Canada (ACA-T) in March, returned only seven microdiamonds. K281 was the 36th kimberlite body to be discovered in the region by partners Ashton and Alberta Energy (AEC-T), each of which has a 45% interest, and Pure Gold Minerals (PUG-T), which holds the remainder.

In the meantime, results from the processing of a 20-tonne mini-bulk drill sample of the promising K252 kimberlite are pending. Unlike the other kimberlites discovered in the Buffalo Hills area, K252 has a weak magnetic signature and was originally identified as a drill target by an airborne electromagnetic survey. An initial, 1,280-kg drill sample of K252 returned a 0.85-carat parcel of stones larger than 0.8 mm.

The company is also active in Ontario’s Pickle Lake area, where it has drill-tested three geophysical anomalies. Highly altered, non-foliated, ultramafic rocks were intersected at two of the targets, while a sulphide-bearing foliated rock was encountered at the third anomaly.

Ashton can earn a 70% interest in this property by spending $2 million on exploration by mid-2004. The six claims cover elevated concentrations of indicator minerals identified by heavy mineral sampling over the past two years.

In northern Quebec, Ashton, together with provincial government-owned Soquem, has acquired an additional 830 sq. km in the Otish Mountains area, where the pair’s land package now totals 1,820 sq. km.

In late 2000, an aeromagnetic survey of the area revealed targets in the vicinity of indicator mineral anomalies. Certain heavy mineral samples contained high-chromium, low-calcium (G-10) pyrope garnets and picroilmenite compositions suggestive of diamond preservation. Follow-up ground geophysical surveys were conducted over eight of the airborne anomalies, and further sampling and prospecting are planned.

Ashton is also exploring the Star property in the Northwest Territories and the Ric property in Nunavut.